Birmingham’s jewellery quarter sparkles with tradition

There are many gems in Birmingham, and there's a large collection of them in the city's Jewellery Quarter in Hockley. Nearly half of all the jewellery made in Britain comes from this 264 acre part of the country.

Some 12 million pieces of jewellery are hallmarked in this area of Birmingham every year, at the world's biggest assay office. It's also where the School of Jewellery is located, the largest of its kind in Europe.

This historic area dates back to the early 1800s, and a century later around 30,000 people were employed in the jewellery trade there. Today, although there has been a marked decline over the years due to cheaper jewellery imports and a lack of demand, some of the UK’s top jewellers have presences in the quarter, with their master craftsmen continuing the trade.

Visitors can get a great sense of times past and present at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter on Vyse Street. There, you can get a guided tour of this workshop that was founded in 1899 and remains alive today. You can see craftspeople at work and purchase designer items at the museum's shop.

Keeping traditions alive

A resurgence in the Jewellery Quarter, backed by local business and government initiatives in redevelopment and conservation, has led to a surge of investment in this well-known area in terms of residential properties and business locations. Tourism was earmarked several decades ago and continues to develop.

The quarter is believed to have the highest concentration of jewellers anywhere in Europe. Altogether, there are around 700 firms in the area that are in some way involved in the jewellery trade, and more than half of them produce jewellery.

Much of what’s made is for the retail as well as the wholesale markets, including exports. Altogether there are more than 100 Jewellery Quarter shops that attract people looking for something a bit more unique than they might find on their on high street. If they don’t find something to their taste, customers can discuss a particular design they might have in mind and have their very own piece of jewellery designed just for them.

Gem of a place

Some of the UK's leading diamond experts are located in the quarter, and specialise in engagement and wedding rings. A distinctive setting in an engagement ring could add extra sparkle to any marriage proposal, sealed with exclusive weddings bands that are also available in platinum.

Of course, the Jewellery Quarter is not just about expensive metals and shiny gems, although that is the main reason for its continued existence. There's lots more to see and do in the area, however, including art galleries and bars and restaurants. When you're finished browsing the fantastic range of jewellery shops and learning about the area’s past, you can take in an exhibition and relax over a coffee, rounding out an enjoyable day out whether you purchased some jewellery or not.

It’s not for nothing that the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter is known as “Birmingham’s Gem”.

Author Bio - John Stokes is a freelance writer with an interest in the jewellery industry. He contributes to and researches on a number of websites, including http://www.the-quarter.com.

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What is the right size for diamond engagement ring?

Diamond rings are still the most popular form of diamond jewelry because proposing the bride with an engagement diamond ring has a very long tradition, and has been accepted in many countries of the world.

When choosing the perfect ring for your future bride you have to think about what is the adequate size of diamond.  This is not only important from the aesthetic point of view but also from financial point of view because even a small difference in size can mean spending considerably higher than you have planned with your budget.

A size of diamond is measured in carats. Anything below 0.5 carats may look to small, especially if you're future bride to be doesn't have small, tiny fingers. In average, 0.5-1 carat is the usual size of the diamond for the engagement ring.

This means that those with higher salaries should go for at least one carat while the rest could pass with ½ of carat. 

The quality of cut, and certain shapes could make diamond appear bigger than it really is. Too big diamond could look to flashy, and some ladies will rather want visible but not too flashy impression, though of course plenty of them love the bigger the better perspective.

Instead of going for just one larger diamond you can also decide to try the option of several smaller diamonds as this would give your engagement ring a more unusual look.

The size is just one part of the coin with the sparkle being the other one. If you properly put these two together you'll put a huge smile on your darling's face.

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Diamonds are kings of jewelry

Diamond jewelry comes in many different variations such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings. White diamonds represent the majority of diamond jewelry industry but the popularity of colored diamonds is constantly rising.

Colored diamonds owe their color to different inclusions, and white diamonds do not have these inclusions (pure white diamonds) or have very little inclusions. This however doesn’t mean that white diamonds are always more expensive compared to colored diamonds because some natural colored diamonds are extremely rare and therefore extremely expensive like for instance red, pink and green diamonds.

Since diamonds are very expensive many people look to buy synthetic diamonds instead of natural diamonds. Synthetic diamonds have exactly the same physical and chemical properties like natural diamonds, they can even have more supreme properties, and the only difference between these two is the place of their origin (Earth's core as compared to lab), and of course the price because lab created diamonds have significantly smaller price tag than their natural brothers.

Some people even look to different diamond simulants such as cubic zirconia. If you are one of those people then make sure to consider moissanite because moissanite has such similar properties to real diamond that large number of jewelers won't be able to tell the difference between these two.

Diamond rings are still the most popular form of diamond jewelry, especially diamond engagement rings that have become tradition in many countries of the modern world, thanks to early Hollywood and excellent marketing campaigns.

Why buy diamonds jewelry? Diamonds have some really remarkable and supreme properties that make them indestructible in most situations meaning that they are by far the best jewelry option of them all, and diamond engagement rings have become tradition in many countries of the modern world, thanks to early Hollywood and excellent marketing campaigns such as “Diamonds Are Forever”.

You simply can't go wrong with diamonds because they are always in demand and do not lose their value over time, which means that they also make very interesting option for investors. The girl's best friends, the stones with magical properties that bring their bearer a share of good luck, the eternal tokens of love- diamonds are symbols of many different things, and is up to you to choose the one you fancy the most.

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How to best care for your diamond jewelry?

Diamond jewelry needs to be looked after with love and affection, especially since we are talking about the most expensive jewelry of them all. Though word diamond comes from the Greek word „adamas“ meaning indestructible you can still do something that can damage your diamond jewelry if you don't look after it on proper way.

If you happen to be frequently doing some activities that may lead to your diamond jewelry being hit it is wise to take your jewelry off and keep it in the safe place and put it back again after you finish your work.

Why do you need to keep your diamond jewelry clean? Diamond jewelry is all about shine and light and if your diamond jewelry is not clean enough it will lose much of its visual appeal.  If your diamond is dirty there won't be sufficient light reflection and your diamond will lose its shine, and with it much of its beauty.

Soaps, different cleaning materials, suntan lotions – all of these substances can make our diamond jewelry dirty and affect the way diamond reflects the light.

Keeping your diamond clean isn't that difficult. Some will tell you that the best way to clean your diamonds is to use ammonia solutions. Though ammonia solutions are effective in cleaning diamonds they can still cause damage to diamond's color so I would instead recommend dipping your diamond into warm solution of water and mild detergent for few minutes and afterwards to just gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush.

Also, make sure to regularly examine your jewelry to see everything's tight and no diamond is loose. Just shake your diamond jewelry next to your ear and you should hear if something's loose or not. If something appears to be shaking visit the jeweler and let him tighten it.

Remember that you paid a lot of money for your diamond jewelry so make sure to take good care of it.

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Diamonds are kings among jewelry

When it comes down to choosing perfect jewelry then diamonds are really the kings of jewelry, and the most sought after pieces of jewelry. They do cost a lot, but as the saying goes nothing shines as beautiful as diamonds do not to mention that almost every girl loves diamonds. These days even quite a few men decide to wear diamonds, and diamonds that are becoming increasingly popular among men are black diamonds (mostly in form of diamond rings and diamond earrings). There are different forms of available diamond jewelry and the most common are diamond rings, diamond necklaces, and diamond earrings.

Diamond rings are not only ultimate symbols of love, they are also the most practical form of diamond jewelry. They are very easy to wear, you can wear them on every finger, and since our hands are constantly on the move diamond rings are most noticeable form of jewelry. Diamond ring doesn't have to be necessarily engagement diamond ring, it can be also a fashion statement, like for instance black diamond in diamond rings for men. With so much different diamond rings to choose from you can definitely find something that will express your own style, and you can even make totally yours custom diamond ring with specific details. Your imagination is really the only limit.

Diamond necklaces are considered by many as the perfect signs of high class. With diamond necklace your neck certainly looks much more appealing, especially in combination with some formal gown. Just take a look at the different celebs at Oscar award night, and you'll see how beautiful these necklaces look on them. Of course since diamond necklaces consist of more than one diamond they are usually more expensive than diamond rings, but hey if you want to make a statement you won't think about every single penny, now would you?

Diamond earrings are also excellent way to make certain fashion statements as you can stay with the classic look, or can even opt to some "new wave" diamond earrings. In any case, you'll surely attract much attention because these babies do look nice, especially in combination with beautiful smile. You can choose the simplest of design or go for some rather complicated and flashy custom design. What ever suits you best, everything can be made, of course at the given price.

The final conclusion is that you can never go wrong with diamonds as your choice for jewelry. Diamond jewelry is still ultimate jewelry gift. With diamonds you simply can't go wrong.

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What is the price of an average diamond engagement ring?

Diamond engagement rings are not only fabulous looking pieces of jewelry, they are so much more with their strong symbolism and tradition. It's a common fact that diamond engagement rings have long tradition and history on their side which gives them a special status among all other diamond jewelry. After all when you decide to buy diamond engagement ring this means that you have made your choice, and have chosen that special person with whom you'll spend the eternity with.

How much money should you spend on diamond engagement ring, and is there an average price of diamond engagement ring that should give you some basic guidelines about what is enough money to spend?

The first rule that you should follow when buying diamond engagement ring is to spend the amount you feel comfortable with. The true love isn't in buying the biggest diamond you can find, but this does not mean that you should buy some cheap diamond simulant either. What you should really do is set up your affordable budget, and stick with it, which will be quite helpful to you not to spend more than you can really afford.

Some of you are probably introduced with the famous "two months salary" rule as an adequate money to spend on diamond engagement ring. I for one I'm against following this rule because two months salary can in some cases be a true fortune, and it is definitely not wise to blow so much money on diamond ring when for instance you have down-payment on a house to worry about.

In 2002 there was this rather interesting study by the Conde Nast Bridal Group, publisher of Bride's and Modern Bride, that concluded how the the average cost of an engagement ring in United States is $3,576. So if you still have tough time in deciding how much to spend you can use the result of this study. But who says you have to be average?

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Why purchase loose diamonds?

To some people it may seem a bit odd why some people want to purchase loose diamonds today when you can choose from variety of diamonds of different, shapes, sizes, color and cut. But yet some customers still want to buy loose diamonds. Why? Purchasing loose diamonds definitely has one big advantage, namely the personalized selection.

There are some people that do not want to stick with traditional shapes and forms, and actually want something unique, something that would express their personality in a unique way, and these are the people that purchase loose diamonds.

By purchasing loose diamonds you are basically in control of the entire process which means that you can control the final outcome of your diamond jewelry, up to the smallest possible detail.

For instance if you have already been to a jewelry store, and you didn't find not one single setting that you would fancy so what can you do next? The answer is simple, buy loose diamond, and then tell your wishes to jeweler so he/she can create your unique piece of diamond jewelry.

As you can see purchasing loose diamonds is all about adding personalized signature to your future piece of diamond jewelry. Diamond industry has gone so far that only your imagination is limit, so if you like to be innovative make sure to choose your authentic piece of diamond jewelry.

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How to choose men’s diamond earrings?

Since we are living in the modern society diamond jewelry is not oriented strictly on women but also on men. Men's diamond earrings together with men's diamond necklaces and men's diamond rings are becoming wanted pieces of jewelry in eyes of many men across the globe. The increased demand has resulted in variety of different choices so you can choose from a variety of different men's diamond earrings such as diamond stud earrings, diamond cluster earrings, huggie earrings, hip hop bling jewelry designs, and many others. Some want their earrings to look classic and elegant, the others want it to primarily look cool, but whatever your taste is you can be sure to find the adequate piece in accordance to your wishes.

How to know what is your style and what kind of design would you be interested in? Well you can take a look at all the available designs and choose the one for yourself but even if you don't find something you really like your diamond earrings can still be created according to your wishes, though custom made option is usually the most expensive one.

When choosing proper design you should ask yourself do you want to stand out from the rest or keep it as simple as possible? If you want to stand out from the rest I would suggest picking princess-cut diamond because this type of cut is less worn compared to dominant round cut that results in the biggest sparkle.

Size of your diamond earrings is also the matter of your personal preferences and wishes but make sure to work on at least some kind of symmetry with your ear. Men's diamond earrings usually have specially designed features and settings made for men which are different to diamond earrings worn by women. Men's diamond earrings usually have specially crafted 'shallow' setting which minimizes the protrusion of the stud from the ear unlike for women where they tend to protrude out from the ear.

If you're in a lookout for currently popular men's diamond earring then I would suggest the highly popular "Claw Prong" setting that features three claw-like prongs. This design is really very cool and elegant because it minimizes coverage of the face of the diamond exposing more facets of the diamond and is being crafted in 14k white gold that adds more emphasis on diamond making it look even more beautiful.

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Putting diamond into platinum setting info

People always want to know how much would certain setting, certain diamond, certain appraisal cost, and this is pretty natural when you consider that diamonds are the most expensive jewelry of them all. There can't be universal answer for this type of questions because final price depends on many different elements that should be all taken into account. I will try to show you what I mean by explaining you for instance what elements should you consider when calculating costs of lets say putting diamond into platinum setting. Combination of diamond and platinum certainly looks great but it also has quite a price that needs to be paid to jeweler who will have to joint these two together into one exquisite piece of jewelry.

The starting point is of course selecting the jeweler that will do the job. Very famous and trusted jewelers are likely to demand higher prices but they ensure quality for the extra money spent on them. If you happen to already have both platinum setting as well as the diamond then this job of merging these two shouldn't take too long, and most importantly it shouldn't be too expensive. Of course it all depends what settings you prefer, and how difficult would it be for jeweler to put your diamond into this setting. The more difficulties with putting diamond into the setting means you'll have to pay more to jeweler. The wisest thing would definitely be to call several jewelers and compare their prices before choosing the one that will do the job in the end.

If you aren't already in the possession of platinum setting then your final expenses will be significantly higher especially if you opt for some highly demanding custom made setting that can in the end turn out to be even more expensive than the diamond you're putting in.

The one thing you must always remember when talking about diamonds - there are no such things as the usual prices or costs. Most people that buy diamonds have their own desire about what they want to buy and how they want their diamond (and setting) to look like so final price is in reality the result of buyer's desires and specifications given to chosen jeweler. There are some who want even bother asking the final price because all they care is to get what they want while the others will maybe even change their wishes because they cannot make their wish come true since this would cost too much.

This is really quite simple when you think of it, first make sure to know what exactly you look for (the setting and the diamond), set your budget, ask couple of jewelers and/or check online to find some available prices, and you're only one step away from getting that desired piece of diamond jewelry.

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Palladium engagement rings - A wise option

Platinum and white gold are still the most favorable metals when choosing diamond engagement ring but there is one metal that is recently becoming more and more popular and its name is palladium. Prices of platinum and white gold are constantly rising, especially in times of recession, and therefore palladium engagement rings come as cheaper but still extremely nice looking alternative.

Though palladium belongs to platinum family it is less dense, and a bit heavier than platinum. Palladium has slightly darker color than platinum but it still has that classy look despite being cheaper than platinum. Palladium's main competitor is not platinum but white gold, and they are both in the same price range, though very soon palladium might become even cheaper if gold prices continue their expected climb in years to come.

Palladium engagement rings really look luxurious, and they really put more emphasis on diamond, making it sparkle even more so I would definitely prefer it over white gold. It's basically the closest you can get that looks almost the same as platinum but costs significantly less so it's definitely worthy to consider.

So if you decide to go for palladium engagement ring how to get one? This shouldn't be too difficult as they should be available at almost any bigger jewelry store. There are also numbers of stores that offer palladium engagement rings online so if you decide to go for it you should really have no trouble in finding one.

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Helzberg diamonds - Quick facts

The most popular, and also the most expensive jewelry is of course diamond jewelry, and when you buy one you want to make sure that you're buying authentic quality diamonds. There are many trusted names among different diamond merchants and one of the most famous and most trusted is definitely Helzberg diamonds. Over the years Helzberg diamonds have become synonym for authentic, quality diamonds. Helzberg diamonds owe their reputation to the very long tradition because this is a store that has done successful business for many years and this is what made them famous and trusted in diamond jewelry business.

Helzberg diamonds are particularly popular among celebrities because Helzberg diamonds have the reputation of being the most elegant, especially their designed diamond jewelry that is always followed with high demand. What customers want when buying diamonds is confidence that they're buying the "real deal", and this is something Helzberg diamonds do not have problem with, as they ensure buyer full confidence, and of course satisfaction after a successful purchase.

The best part is their wide range of selection so you can find very cheap and also the most expensive diamonds, local as well as the imported diamonds, popular and personalized designs, different shapes and cut, basically what ever you desire you can find there, and the thing you can be sure of is that you're buying authentic diamond.

Helzberg diamonds are really big brand, and very few other brands could be put in the same sentence with Helzberg diamonds. Helzberg diamonds are not only about a tradition and safe purchase, what they also ensure is the excellent customer care. When you decide to purchase diamonds from Helzberg you will not only get the warranty card but also a personalized voucher, which assures the quality and the price of the jewelry. This is very helpful if by any chance you decide to later sell these diamonds because no one will question their authenticity. In any case going for Helzberg diamonds is never a bad choice.

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Facts about diamond necklaces

Every lady wants to feel glamorous and special from time to time, and there are very few better ways to achieve glamour than by wearing some gorgeous looking diamond necklace. For the ladies that want to truly feel special, and can afford it, diamond necklace is really the piece of jewelry they will be satisfied with.

If you want the maximum spark with your diamond jewelry than diamond necklace should be your number one choice, and wearing diamond necklace gives you the certainty that you will be noticed in society. You should know that in no other jewelry can diamonds adopt so well in the perfect glowing sparkle, and this is what makes diamond necklaces such special gifts.

Diamond necklaces are so stylish, and they are also so irresistibly adoring. There are not many jewelry items that can enhance overall appearance of a certain distinguished lady like diamond necklaces can so if you really want for your lady to become the queen of the ball you should consider the possibility of buying diamond necklaces for lets say anniversary gift.

With diamond as a gift you can never be wrong with ladies as ladies are always fascinated with these shiny stones. The stones will shine, and she will have that extra shine too, so if your budget allows it you could surprise your lady with diamond necklace, one of the most sought after diamond gifts.

Of course diamonds are very expensive, and diamond necklaces do not come cheap so make sure to visit at least several stores before deciding where to buy if you want to rationalize your budget. When buying diamond necklace you must also have in mind the occasion for which you buy it, is it an anniversary gift after 30 years or marriage, or is it a gift to your future bride to be.

Diamond necklaces are not only extremely fashionable pieces of jewelry but they also reflect the financial power and status which is very important to some people. The individuals can also go for custom made diamond necklaces to fully express their unique style and personality.

The best thing diamond necklaces are good at is to create an impression. This is because of already mentioned spark that is at his very best in form of diamond necklaces.

Diamond necklaces are always popular jewelry choice, and there is really a wide variety of necklaces to choose from. Lately among the most popular diamond necklaces have been heart shaped diamond necklaces that are one of the best way to tell your woman that you love her.

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Diamonds are never things of the past

Are diamonds really to expensive? Well, when you consider their rarity and the ancient long tradition it is very difficult to call them too expensive. Rarity and tradition has its price in many other areas, not only when related to diamonds. Take some paintings from famous authors, they cost millions of dollars, and yet there is always someone willing to buy them, because this person wants to have something unique and valuable regardless of price. Diamonds were extremely valuable since the very beginning and our complete value system is basically nothing more than a composition of tradition and history.

With diamond jewelry you can also always use diamonds from your old ring to create a new ring by putting these old diamonds into a brand new setting. Many people do this because they have diamond rings that have sentimental value for them but are not their style so they want to keep the old diamond (s) by putting it into some new setting that would more suit their taste.

If you want to do this the first step is to take the old diamond ring (or any other piece of diamond jewelry) to jeweler, and tell him about the setting you want for your new diamond ring. How much would this cost depends on your wishes, the more complicated setting means more money spent but in the end you'll be able to get what you were looking for, something that suits your style.

So if you happen to have some old diamond ring or any other piece of diamond jewelry that you do not fancy but which has some sentimental values don't let it be wasted, choose setting you like and become a proud owner of brand new diamond ring. Remember that only imagination is your limit when choosing that perfect piece of diamond jewelry.

Diamonds are never things of the past. Diamonds are much much more, they are expensive but beautiful tradition that gets upgraded in present in order to last for eternity. Two or three million years (the average lifespan of diamonds) seem from our point of view like eternity. And no price is too high for eternity.

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Going for custom made diamond engagement ring

Choosing the right diamond engagement ring can sometimes be hard and demanding, and many people think that things get even harder if you decide to go for custom diamond engagement ring. After all this is your first big move and you definitely want to impress your future bride to be with something that she would consider as an ideal diamond engagement ring.

Many men fear that they will make the wrong decision if choosing custom made diamond ring, and the most frightened of them even take their future brides with them to jewelry store letting the future bride to be to choose their own diamond ring. This option is pretty much a safe one, but kind of lacking the total romantic appeal.

So if you feel brave enough to go for custom diamond engagement ring don't be afraid of what lies ahead. Why? Because choosing an ideal custom made diamond engagement ring isn't as hard as many people think it is, and you don't need months and months to decide what the best choice is for your darling. The only thing that is requires is a bit of creativity from your part. How hard can that be?

In general you already have an idea about the diamond ring she would like to have, and the rest is only matter of choosing the style most suited to her wishes. In accordance to this you may like only one bigger diamond on the ring or perhaps couple of smaller ones, you may decide to go round, oval, square, emerald, Asscher or any other diamond cut, you may choose platinum or gold setting, etc.

At first sight this may seem as too much available options but once you get the hang of it you'll see it's not as difficult as it seem it is, and it can even turn out to be really fun experience in the end, after all you are buying something personal and unique for your darling, and this must give you some sort of excitement.

In many cases you'll already find similar diamond ring to the one you have in mind, and it will only take couple of small modifications to make it into ideal diamond engagement ring. What ever you have in your mind professional jeweler can make it real so make sure to tell him any ingredient you want, and you'll be more than pleased with final result. So give your imagination a try and go for custom diamond engagement ring, and don't worry it'll turn out to be great fun in the end.

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